‘This is Forward’ – New sustainability plan for Coca-Cola Europe
On Monday, Coca-Cola Europe revealed it was launching a new action plan with its European partners, called ‘This is Forward’, to improve its sustainability. This sustainability plan incorporates environmental, climate and social objectives, which have been developed with the help of over 100 key stakeholders. The plan includes reducing the sugar content in its soft drinks range by 10 percent by 2020. Also as part of the scheme and partnership, both companies intend to use materials that are 100 percent recyclable and reusable for the packaging of its products. In terms of society, the amount of local community partnerships and projects focused on the empowerment of young people and women will be increased.
These important objectives are supported by actions concerning climate and the overall supply chain. Both companies are determined to cut greenhouse gas emissions from their core business activities by 50 percent and by 35 percent across the whole value chain. Moreover, they intend to have all their operations fully powered by electricity produced from renewable energy and ensure that all their raw materials and main cultivated ingredients are sourced sustainably by 2020.
To find out more about this action plan, click here.
UPS joins the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA)
This week, UPS announced it has become a member of BiTA – a forum created to develop blockchain frameworks and education in the logistics and freight industry. The package delivery company has grown interest in this ongoing trend as it believes that industry standards and procedures are required, so that blockchain platforms can operate collectively with established technologies. In the logistics industry, blockchain technology can be used for many processes in insurance, payment, audit and customs brokerage. UPS is particularly interested in the use of blockchain in its customs brokerage activities so it can digitize transactions.
Furthermore, blockchain technology would be a substitute option for UPS with regard to the current manual processes that require stacks of paper. As a result, UPS can increase the accuracy, transparency and efficiency of transactions with its customers, retailers, shippers, and other supply chain stakeholders like government customs agencies. Through this intercompany alliance and the creation of blockchain standards, logistics strategies, that allow UPS consumers to ultimately play a role in global trade and finance, will be supported.
Read more about this here.
New Electric Van with Delivery Drone
On Tuesday, Workhorse Group, an American manufacturing company currently concentrating on producing electric delivery vehicles, announced its plans to test its new electric delivery truck fitted with a last-mile delivery drone for an online retailer. After tests have been conducted, the N-Gen truck should make its first deliveries in California and Ohio in the first quarter of 2018. The N-Gen van has the company’s range-extended electric drive system that uses a battery drivetrain charged from a commercial power grid. The delivery vehicle can travel up to 100 miles on the battery system and then a further 75 miles using power from the generator. In terms of the vehicle design, it has a custom plastic body and a low cargo floor making loading and unloading easier and increasing the total cargo volume.
The HorseFly drone, which sits on a pad on top of the van, is an optional addition to the electric vehicle. It has on-board GPS and an infrared camera for route guidance. The drone can deliver parcels weighing up to 10 pounds along a driver’s route within 2 miles of the vehicle and fly at speeds of 50 mph for up to 30 mins, before recharging the batteries. This would decrease delivery costs in the long run and speed up the delivery process, meaning more deliveries can be made per shift.
To read more about this electric vehicle, click here.
Have a great weekend!
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